ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)
Severe storms and high winds caused widespread disruption to parts of Scotland on Thursday (December 8), leaving thousands without power, causing roads and schools to close and hitting air travel.
The Met office issued a red alert warning, after winds of up to 150 mph (241 kph) were recorded on Thursday.
Scottish Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said all parts of country were experiencing very heavy winds with the central belt and southern Scotland facing particularly severe weather conditions.
Schools were either closed to pupils all day or were forced to close early.
"Think we'll stay in and maybe watch some Christmas movies, or do some decorations," said one mother picking up her children after their school had closed early.
Some fallen trees caused minor accidents.
"I came outside and I had just seen the trees started falling, and I just see my dad basically lying underneath it," a man said.
Edinburgh and Glasgow airports said a number of flights had been cancelled or delayed due to high winds.
Widespread travel restrictions have been put in place and police told people to avoid driving on the roads across central Scotland from midday until early evening.
The Met office said there was a possibility of snow later in the evening, but that winds were expected to die down after the red alert warning elapsed at 9 p.m.
Windspeeds recorded on Thursday were not far off the highest windspeed recorded in Scotland at 173mph on 20 March 1986 at Cairngorm point.
